Pong is considered the first commercially successful video game and was the first game developed by Atari. The prototype unit was an arcade cabinet designed by Al Alcorn in 1972. The system was a quick success and was soon replicated by many competitors.

In 1975, Atari developed Home Pong, a low cost system which connected to a consumer's home television set. This system condensed the transistor-transistor-logic of the arcade version into a single-chip integrated circuit. While development of an itegrated circuit was expensive, it dramatically reduced the marginal cost of manufacturing, and mass production became much more feasible.

The first iteration was sold exclusively through Sears department stores under the Tele-Games brand. It sold over 150,000 units in the 1975 holiday season, becoming Sears' most successful product.

As with the arcade verion, Home Pong was quickly replicated by competitors, launching the home video game market. Many of the clones, including those available to play at 64 Bits or Less, where built using the General Instrument AY-3-8500 "Ball & Paddle" chip.

Tele-Games Sports Center

After Home Pong, Sears would continue to use the Tele-Games brand for licensed systems from a number of manufacturers.

The Tele-Games Sports Center was a series of pong-like consoles produced by APF Electronics, also marketed as the APF TV Fun sereies. 64 Bits or Less has 1977's Hockey-Tennis model, which also features handball and a single player practice mode.

RadioShack TV Scoreboard

The TV Scoreboard was a series of pong-like consoles produced by Tandy and sold exclusively through their RadioShack stores. The system had a unique form factor, with the entire system built into the handheld controllers.

Several variants of this system were released between 1976 and the early 1980s. 64 Bits or Less has a version with Tennis, Hockey, Squash, and Practice.

Coleco Telstar Ranger

Coleco Telstar was a line of pong-like systems launched in 1976. The Ranger, released in 1977, set itself apart with the inclusion of a light-gun modeled after a Colt 45. In addition to four traditional pong-like games, the Ranger featured Skeet and Target Shooting using the light gun.